A look at the Recent Acquisitions of Barjeel Art Foundation

The last time I went there, the Barjeel Art Foundation showcased exemplary modern Arab World art with RE: Orient. About a year later, hearing of an upcoming few weeks' exhibition of some of its recent acquisitions -- appropriately entitled Recent Acquisitions -- I drove down to Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah to catch opening night, betting on a show as good as before.

The exhibition included a selection of paintings and drawings from among the foundation's art vault newcomers, ranging from modern to contemporary, and by artists from several countries around the Arab World. I recognized some of them, such as Guirguis Lotfi (bottom left), and discovered many more I liked, like Yaser Dwaik (right).

Overall, I liked the quality of the artworks, as well as the broad and interesting range of styles, ages and origins represented in the curator's choice. If you want to see some great diverse art from the region, I once again recommend a visit to the Foundation, before the gallery's contents are archived after the first week of November.

RE: Orient modern art exhibition at Barjeel Art Foundation

I had gone to the Maraya Art Centre to check out an exhibition I knew was on in the Maraya Art Gallery, and stumbled across the Barjeel Art Foundation by accident. I'm glad I still had time that night to spare for this gallery, because it had some really amazing stuff on display.

Still Life with Fish by Abdul-Halim Radwi

I had no idea that an Arab modernist art scene existed, but one apparently did. The exhibition focuses on the art from the '50s, '60s and '70s, when the Middle East was undergoing serious cultural and political transitions.

Nocturne by Seif Wanly

The works on display include a couple of nice sculptures, but the broad range of paintings in a variety of media predominate in the exhibition, in styles ranging from cubism to expressionism.

Watermelon Sellers by Hafidh al Droubi

This is not typical of what most people might imagine when Middle Eastern art is discussed. Although painted according to Western modernist traditions, the choices of subjects (and, occasionally, medium) do, however, betray a regional origin.

Untitled by Saadi al Kaabi

The exhibition features select modernist art works by an ensemble of regional masters, including founders of institutes and grantees of state funerals, over the three decades. As such, it would be unfair to compare it to most other exhibitions in the UAE, but I have to say it's one of the best I've seen in recent memory.

Untitled by Samir Rafi

RE: Orient is on until November 22nd, and I highly recommend a leisurely perusal.

Verdict